Impact of Modifiable Risk Factors on the Occurrence of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Diyala, Iraq: Case-Control Study

BackgroundIn 2018, an outbreak of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) occurred in Diyala Province in Iraq. Several risk factors of CL were identified in a prior study; however, the impact of removing modifiable risk factors on the occurrence of the disease was not measured....

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Main Authors: Asaad Mahdi Lehlewa, Hanan Abdulghafoor Khaleel, Faris Lami, Saif Aldeen Falah Hasan, Hasanain Asmail Malick, Razzaq Hashim Mohammed, Qais Abdulazziz Abdulmottaleb
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JMIR Publications 2021-07-01
Series:JMIRx Med
Online Access:https://med.jmirx.org/2021/3/e28255
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author Asaad Mahdi Lehlewa
Hanan Abdulghafoor Khaleel
Faris Lami
Saif Aldeen Falah Hasan
Hasanain Asmail Malick
Razzaq Hashim Mohammed
Qais Abdulazziz Abdulmottaleb
author_facet Asaad Mahdi Lehlewa
Hanan Abdulghafoor Khaleel
Faris Lami
Saif Aldeen Falah Hasan
Hasanain Asmail Malick
Razzaq Hashim Mohammed
Qais Abdulazziz Abdulmottaleb
author_sort Asaad Mahdi Lehlewa
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundIn 2018, an outbreak of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) occurred in Diyala Province in Iraq. Several risk factors of CL were identified in a prior study; however, the impact of removing modifiable risk factors on the occurrence of the disease was not measured. ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to measure the impact of removing modifiable risk factors of CL on the occurrence of the disease. MethodsWe conducted a population-based unmatched case-control study in two conveniently selected districts in Diyala Province. All cases of CL were included. Controls were chosen preferentially according to the site where the cases occurred. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The unadjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals for each risk factor were calculated using binary logistic regression. We also calculated the attributable fractions and 95% confidence intervals of the modifiable risk factors. A P value <.05 was considered statistically significant. ResultsData from 844 persons (432 cases, 51.2%) were analyzed. Cases were more likely than controls to report a history of previous displacement (OR 5.18, 95% CI 3.84-6.98), electricity supply for less than 12 hours per day (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.47-2.55), living in a rural area (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.45-2.51), living in a clay house (OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.59-3.66), having an unpainted indoor living space (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.51-3.02), having rodents inside the house (OR 5.15, 95% CI 3.56-7.47), having chickens, sheep, or both (OR 3.44, 95% CI 2.48-4.75), having a mixture of dogs and sheep or of dogs and chickens within a distance of less than 100 meters (OR 3.92, 95% CI 2.59-5.94), fogging (OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.40-3.19), bed net use (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.08-2.72), and sleeping outside or a mixture of inside and outside (OR 4.01, 95% CI 1.32-12.19). The data show that the exposure of approximately 70% to 80% of cases was associated with displacement, the presence of rodents inside the house, the presence of animals within 100 meters of the house, the presence of animals (chickens/sheep/both or a mixture of dogs and sheep or of dogs and chickens), and sleeping outside. Approximately 40%-50% of the cases reported living in a clay house, living in a rural area, having an unpainted indoor space, having an electricity supply for less than 12 hours, and using a bed net. ConclusionsPrevention and control of CL requires a multifaceted approach that relies on changing environmental conditions, housing conditions, and human behavior. Fogging and bed net use were not effective because the underlying housing characteristics and human behavior provided a good culture for the disease. We recommend conducting a study to identify the species, reservoirs, and vectors of CL in Iraq; studying vector behaviors before applying environmental control measures; and educating the public on how and when to use bed nets as well as how to accompany their use with behavioral changes.
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spelling doaj.art-4acc9feac7924686b6d4081856e4601c2024-02-03T04:56:24ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIRx Med2563-63162021-07-0123e2825510.2196/28255Impact of Modifiable Risk Factors on the Occurrence of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Diyala, Iraq: Case-Control StudyAsaad Mahdi Lehlewahttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4871-3491Hanan Abdulghafoor Khaleelhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9485-8328Faris Lamihttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3673-3818Saif Aldeen Falah Hasanhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6257-6732Hasanain Asmail Malickhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0885-1080Razzaq Hashim Mohammedhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2932-3474Qais Abdulazziz Abdulmottalebhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0493-3997 BackgroundIn 2018, an outbreak of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) occurred in Diyala Province in Iraq. Several risk factors of CL were identified in a prior study; however, the impact of removing modifiable risk factors on the occurrence of the disease was not measured. ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to measure the impact of removing modifiable risk factors of CL on the occurrence of the disease. MethodsWe conducted a population-based unmatched case-control study in two conveniently selected districts in Diyala Province. All cases of CL were included. Controls were chosen preferentially according to the site where the cases occurred. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The unadjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals for each risk factor were calculated using binary logistic regression. We also calculated the attributable fractions and 95% confidence intervals of the modifiable risk factors. A P value <.05 was considered statistically significant. ResultsData from 844 persons (432 cases, 51.2%) were analyzed. Cases were more likely than controls to report a history of previous displacement (OR 5.18, 95% CI 3.84-6.98), electricity supply for less than 12 hours per day (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.47-2.55), living in a rural area (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.45-2.51), living in a clay house (OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.59-3.66), having an unpainted indoor living space (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.51-3.02), having rodents inside the house (OR 5.15, 95% CI 3.56-7.47), having chickens, sheep, or both (OR 3.44, 95% CI 2.48-4.75), having a mixture of dogs and sheep or of dogs and chickens within a distance of less than 100 meters (OR 3.92, 95% CI 2.59-5.94), fogging (OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.40-3.19), bed net use (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.08-2.72), and sleeping outside or a mixture of inside and outside (OR 4.01, 95% CI 1.32-12.19). The data show that the exposure of approximately 70% to 80% of cases was associated with displacement, the presence of rodents inside the house, the presence of animals within 100 meters of the house, the presence of animals (chickens/sheep/both or a mixture of dogs and sheep or of dogs and chickens), and sleeping outside. Approximately 40%-50% of the cases reported living in a clay house, living in a rural area, having an unpainted indoor space, having an electricity supply for less than 12 hours, and using a bed net. ConclusionsPrevention and control of CL requires a multifaceted approach that relies on changing environmental conditions, housing conditions, and human behavior. Fogging and bed net use were not effective because the underlying housing characteristics and human behavior provided a good culture for the disease. We recommend conducting a study to identify the species, reservoirs, and vectors of CL in Iraq; studying vector behaviors before applying environmental control measures; and educating the public on how and when to use bed nets as well as how to accompany their use with behavioral changes.https://med.jmirx.org/2021/3/e28255
spellingShingle Asaad Mahdi Lehlewa
Hanan Abdulghafoor Khaleel
Faris Lami
Saif Aldeen Falah Hasan
Hasanain Asmail Malick
Razzaq Hashim Mohammed
Qais Abdulazziz Abdulmottaleb
Impact of Modifiable Risk Factors on the Occurrence of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Diyala, Iraq: Case-Control Study
JMIRx Med
title Impact of Modifiable Risk Factors on the Occurrence of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Diyala, Iraq: Case-Control Study
title_full Impact of Modifiable Risk Factors on the Occurrence of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Diyala, Iraq: Case-Control Study
title_fullStr Impact of Modifiable Risk Factors on the Occurrence of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Diyala, Iraq: Case-Control Study
title_full_unstemmed Impact of Modifiable Risk Factors on the Occurrence of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Diyala, Iraq: Case-Control Study
title_short Impact of Modifiable Risk Factors on the Occurrence of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Diyala, Iraq: Case-Control Study
title_sort impact of modifiable risk factors on the occurrence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in diyala iraq case control study
url https://med.jmirx.org/2021/3/e28255
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